INTERESTING:Ex-Springboks star hits back at ‘Bomb Squad’ critics after British writer’s ‘absurd’ view

Rugby World Cup winner Francois Louw has hit back at Stephen Jones after the prominent journalist called on World Rugby to change the replacement laws.

Jones was referring to the Springboks’ ‘Bomb Squad’ after they went with a 7-1 split against Scotland last weekend and brought on six of those forwards at the same time.

Matt Williams and Keith Wood have been other outspoken critics of the tactic, which has helped South Africa to win the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and 2023.

‘Arrogant’ Rassie Erasmus

“No doubt the actions of Erasmus were arrogant. He has enough resources to afford arrogance. The Boks are an unlovely bunch to outsiders, Erasmus himself having been given bans for criticising referees,” Jones wrote in his column for The Times.

“What can be done for the sport to bomb out bomb squads wherever they gather? It is a truism and yet also the inherent weakness of the modern-day game that huge guys almost always prevail over the normal-sized ones.

“Surely the answers should be easy. Rugby must crop fiercely the number of replacements allowed on the pitch.

“There is still an opportunity for sanity. They must change. Even professional teams should only be allowed four forward replacements, and one back.

“Rugby is a tough old game. The more replacements it allows, the more it lurches towards brutality, and loses itself. Defuse the bomb squad.”

Rassie Erasmus and the Boks regularly used a 6-2 split in their 2019 World Cup run before going with the bold 7-1 on occasions in 2023.

That included the big group game against Ireland and the final versus the All Blacks, where they emerged 12-11 triumphant in Paris.

And Louw, who came off the bench in the 2019 showpiece event, was scathing of those who criticised the ‘Bomb Squad’.

“Where in the world did anyone come up with the argument that it’s unfair because ‘you’re too big’?” he told Netwerk24.

“By that logic, it’s ‘you’re too big and too strong – don’t play so hard.’

“Next, we’re going to hear we can’t pick Cheslin Kolbe because he’s too fast or Makazole Mapimpi because he’s too good.”